Sanitary suction for artificial dentures



Jan. 9, 1923. 1,441,384. I.VA. THOMAS ET AL.

SANITARY SUCTION FOR ARTIFICIAL DENTURES.

' FILED MAR. 3. I922.

Patented Jan. 9, i923.

entrain PATENTQQFFEQE.

JACOB A. THOMAS AND ROBERT S. THOIVIAS, OFVJ'ASHINGTQN, DISTRICT OFGOLUMIBIA.

SANITARY SUCTIOI T FOR ARTIFICIAL DENTURES.

; Application filed March a, 1922. Serial M15403.

To (/JZ whom it maycoacerm.

Be it known that we, Jason A. THOMAS and ROBERT S. THOMAS, citizens of the United States, residing at. Vl ashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 1' Sanitary Suction for Artificial Dentures, of which the following is a specificationfl The object of our invent'on is the provision of a sanitary suction plate for artifie cial dentures whereby the saine are more firmly and positively held in engagement with the palate or roof of the mouth. A"

further object of our invention is the pro vision of a sanitary suction plate provided with suction cups whereby artificialdentures are held more positively and firmly in engagement with the palate or roof of the mouth. A still further object of our invention is the provision of a sanitary suction plate provided with a depressed, flexible I non-vulcanizable insert provided with sucview of the suction cup forming plate.

tion cups for the purpose set forth above. A still further object of our invention is a novel form of constructionor buildingof artificial dentures having imbedded therein a soft rubber insert provided with suction cups adapted to contact with the palate or roof of the mouth thereby more positively and firmly holding the artificial denture in I place.

We attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application and of which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the mold having imbedded therein a semi-elliptical shaped suction cup forming plate shown in dotted lines and also showing a non-vulcaniza-ble sheet of rubber superimposed thereon. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the plane of line 38 in Fig. 2, the cups intersected by said plane only being shown. Fig. 4: is a perspective View of the artificial denture in its completed state. fragmental transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4:,the

provided Fig. 5 is an enlargedtherearound and projecting slightly beyond the surface of the plate, said projections and grooves being formed by pressing out the v metal as clearly lndicated n Fig. 3. The numeral 5 designates a non-vulcanizable sheet of rubber which in the process of fornnng the artificial denture is superimposed on the plate 2 ,which has previously been pressed into the mold as indicated in Fig. 1. This rubber sheet is temporarily held in position by three obliquely. deposed pins as indicated at. 6. 1

The non-vulcanizable rubber sheet is of soft, flexible rubber and when placed on the plate 2 as indicated in Fig. 1, will upon pressure thereto be formed with suction cups of the conformation of the counter-sunk projections on plate 2 and as indicated on the inner side of Fig. 3. The mold 1 with the plate 2 and non-vulcanizable sheet 5 posi-' tioned thereon as indicated thereon in Fig. 1 is now in condition for the complete forming of the artificial denture in the usual manner. In the process, the vulcanizable rubber and procelain teeth are placed in their respective positions on the mold according to accepted dental practice and when thus placed together with the non-vulcanizable rubber sheet 5 positioned over the plate 2 is subjected to vulcanization. After the process of vulcanization, the mold 1 with the attached plate 2 is removed, leaving the artificial denture as indicated at 7 in Fig. 4 of the usual form with the exception that it has imbedded therein a soft rubber sheet with a plurality of marginal suction cups, 7 which is the essence of our invention.

It is to be particularly noted that the plate 2 is not pressed in the mold 1 its full thickness but projects slightly above the surface thereof, the object of this being that in the finished denture the sheet 5 will be depressed below the general arched surface of the artificial denture on its upper or palate side thus providing a shallow suction recess 8. It is further to be particularly noted that in the completed denture the suction recess and suction cups are integral with the main body portion of the denture which obviates the possibility of unsanitary elements becoming lodged, which would be the case if the suction cups Were'secured to the body portion by mechanical means.

We are aware that artificial dentures with suction recesses therein have heretofore been employed or at least proposed but said suction recesses were formed directly in the vulcanizable rubber and thus entirely lacked the advantageous features of our invention which provides a soft rubber sheet or insert provided with a plurality of suction cups adapted to firmly, uniformly and positively engage the roof of themouth and thus avoid all possibility of the denture falling "out; The above is one specific embodiment of our invent-ion but it is to be understood'that We are not limited thereto but reserve the right to such modifications as fall Within the right of our claims as hereunto appended. I

What We claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. The method of making an artificial denture which consists in pressing a soft metal suction cup forming plate in amold, placing a non-vulcanlzable rubber sheet thereover and further building up the arti ficial denture over the mold and said sheet and subjecting the Whole to vulcanizatioiu 3. A mold for artificial dentures compris ing "a soft metal plate, semi-elliptical in shape and having suction cups foriningpro- JBCtlQlIS 1n the margin thereof.

at. An artificial denture having shalloiv recess therein provided with a plurality of suction cups 1n the basethereof, said recess With plurality of suction cups, being integral [with artificial denture upon completion ofvulcanization and forming a fixed and permanent part of the artificial denture by reason of its construction. I

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures.

JACOB A. THOMAS.

ROBERT S. THOMAS. 

